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Aurelien Tchouameni scored a wonderful goal and turned in a complete performance as France took another step towards Euro 2024 qualification with a comfortable 2-0 win over Ireland. In an otherwise drab game, Tchouameni shone, turning in a complete showing that offered immense promise for a France side that will surely be one of the favourites next summer.
After a rather poor start from the hosts, Tchouameni opened the scoring — and did so in style. The Real Madrid midfielder pinged an effort into the net from outside the box, curving the ball around two defenders and past a helpless keeper.
France had the ball in the net on a second occasion just before half time, but substitute Marcus Thuram was adjudged to have been offside in the build-up to Kylian Mbappe's effort.
Thuram made up for his mistake early in the second half, though. Mbappe saw a shot deflected, and Thuram pounced on the rebound, firing the ball into the roof of the net to give France a 2-0 lead. There could have been more for the home side as the half wore on. Ousmane Dembele rattled the post. Tchouameni almost had a second. Mbappe, for his part, tried everything to find the back of the net — only to be left frustrated. Still, France remained in control, comfortably seeing off an inferior side.
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